Here we go again!
Well, I hope that all of you had a great holiday season. Now that the festivities are all over, we are all probably trying to stick to our new years resolutions. Did you all make any? I don't really think that I did. I did however try to recommit myself to be more diligent in certain areas of my life that I have let slack (so maybe that is making a new year's resolution).
I had an interesting conversation with one of my youth over the break (not so much a conversation as blogs and email) over her feelings towards youth group and God in general. In her personal life she has told me about several ups and downs and that may have led to her certain feelings towards all things related to God. She assured me that her relationship with God had not changed. I truly do believe her, but I am worried about her anyway.
In my reading (thanks again to Jim Cymbala) God has pointed me to Psalm 51:10-12:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Thy presence, and do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit."
This is incredible and I think I am going to try and make it my prayer for myself this new year. Let me point out three key parts here (again, thanks to Jim Cymbala).
First "Create in me a clean heart..." shows that he (David) is tired of telling God I'm sorry. I promise that I won't do it again (how many times have I done that). He realizes here that he can't do that anymore. So he asks God to "create" something new. Having a pure, clean heart is the core to becoming more like Christ.
"...renew a steadfast spirit within me." Here he is asking for a steadiness. This race that we are running is long and we need endurance to make it through. David is tired of all the ups and downs that came in his life (sound familiar). He not only wants to resist the temptations of this world one day, but every day. The key here is that he knows that he can't do it without God's help.
Finally, "... sustain me with a willing spirit." Not only does he want to be clean and steady, he wants to be willing. When God tells you "you should go talk to them" or "I don't think that would be good for you" we need to be willing to submit to Him and obey. The only way to do that (and David knew it) is by the power of God.
So how does all this tie in. As our youth (and us as adults as well) are faced with this world every day, I desire that they will learn who they are in Christ and to not to be swayed. I don't think any of us really want to have the roller coaster rides of life that we have. We need to believe that God's power can change our hearts. He can make us clean, steady and willing. All we have to do is come to Him knowing that he can do it!
I had an interesting conversation with one of my youth over the break (not so much a conversation as blogs and email) over her feelings towards youth group and God in general. In her personal life she has told me about several ups and downs and that may have led to her certain feelings towards all things related to God. She assured me that her relationship with God had not changed. I truly do believe her, but I am worried about her anyway.
In my reading (thanks again to Jim Cymbala) God has pointed me to Psalm 51:10-12:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Thy presence, and do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit."
This is incredible and I think I am going to try and make it my prayer for myself this new year. Let me point out three key parts here (again, thanks to Jim Cymbala).
First "Create in me a clean heart..." shows that he (David) is tired of telling God I'm sorry. I promise that I won't do it again (how many times have I done that). He realizes here that he can't do that anymore. So he asks God to "create" something new. Having a pure, clean heart is the core to becoming more like Christ.
"...renew a steadfast spirit within me." Here he is asking for a steadiness. This race that we are running is long and we need endurance to make it through. David is tired of all the ups and downs that came in his life (sound familiar). He not only wants to resist the temptations of this world one day, but every day. The key here is that he knows that he can't do it without God's help.
Finally, "... sustain me with a willing spirit." Not only does he want to be clean and steady, he wants to be willing. When God tells you "you should go talk to them" or "I don't think that would be good for you" we need to be willing to submit to Him and obey. The only way to do that (and David knew it) is by the power of God.
So how does all this tie in. As our youth (and us as adults as well) are faced with this world every day, I desire that they will learn who they are in Christ and to not to be swayed. I don't think any of us really want to have the roller coaster rides of life that we have. We need to believe that God's power can change our hearts. He can make us clean, steady and willing. All we have to do is come to Him knowing that he can do it!
posted by Matthew J. Hind at 11:56 AM
2 Comments:
Great post!
Hey Matt,
You should go into your blog's settings and set the e-mail sending address to Tatesbrook@yahoogroups.com so that when you post to your blog it goes out to everyone in an e-mail! Thanks man!
I love Jim Cymbala! His books and sermons are incredible. What a passion for God! I visited Brooklyn Tabernacle and was blown away by his humility and down-to-earthness.
I also love Keith Greens's music, I am a huge fan. Are you familiar with him?
I am a musician and I would be honored if you would check out my music. All music on my site is free for downlad. Anyway, just thought that I'd share.
Thanks,
-Sean
________________
www.SeanDietrich.com
"All music on my site is free for download."
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